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Mark Kiszla: Fed-up fan fires back at Colorado Rockies ownership

Irked by bad baseball that cost him $13 per seat for 81 home games, 28-year-old Nick Coy fired off an e-mail to Rockies owner Dick Monfort. If nothing else, it was catharsis for a fan to take out his frustration with general manager Dan O'Dowd.

The last thing Coy expected was a reply back.

The exchange began when the Rockies recently informed season-tickets holders in an e-mail that every loss was personally unbearable to Monfort.

Like many skeptical customers, Coy didn't believe it.

Endorsing an angry sentiment of a friend, Coy hit the send button with a direct shot at Monfort: "Since (your) e-mail doesn't contain the words 'DAN O'DOWD FIRED,' I assume you think we are all idiots and will buy your snake oil about 'caring' hook, line and sinker. Incorrect ... you will NOT be seeing myself (among many others) renew their season tickets until you show us something meaningful. This is far from it."

The response by Monfort was quick and to the point: "Got it, and if he gets fired you will be perfectly happy?"

The cries for O'Dowd's dismissal have grown so loud, Monfort must acknowledge fan unrest.

"I was surprised he wrote me back. Everybody kind of feels like ownership used to think 30,000 fans are going to show up no matter what product is put on the field," Coy said Monday. "But I think they are a little scared that the Rockies could move to the bottom of the barrel with fans in Denver."

The most forgiving fans in America are fed up.

Born and raised to love the Rockies, Coy took the plunge a week before opening day and moved in down the street from Coors Field.

Oops, there went the neighborhood.

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How was Coy to anticipate he would be living no farther than a Jeremy Guthrie gopher ball away from the worst team in franchise history?

"I don't think they want to lose. I just think they have a GM who hasn't done anything for more than 10 years," said Coy, a marketing director for a technology company. He lives with his wife in a loft at 22nd and Market streets.

The Rockies picked a bad time to be awful. While the Broncos signed quarterback Peyton Manning to show they mean business, the local baseball franchise sounded patronizing by labeling this season the "Year of the Fan."

Signs of revolt are beginning to show. It can be as simple as a paper bag worn to a game by a disgruntled customer. Or it can be as serious as buddies regretfully informing Coy they'd rather save their money for NFL seats than chip in for baseball tickets again next summer.

"People feel powerless, but if you get enough fans together you can make a difference," Coy said. He admitted it would be extremely difficult to give up his seats eight rows beyond the left-field wall, because the ballpark is so cool and attending a game can be cheaper than going to a movie.

No matter how loyal or patient ownership might want to be, it's hard to see how the Monfort brothers could justify the retention of O'Dowd, unless the Rockies improve considerably from the embarrassing 33-52 record they took into the all-star break.

Now that he has ownership's ear, Coy sent one more e-mail to Monfort. In part, it read:

"Fans need a sign that change is on the horizon ... if you want to keep season-ticket holders. If there was a new GM, that would be a sign that you're working toward change and change is needed, unless the organization's goal is to lose 100 games. So to answer your question, no, I wouldn't be perfectly happy if the only change was a new GM, but it would help restore faith that this organization is interested in winning and not just becoming Wrigley West. You have to remember not all of us come to Coors Field just to hang out in the sunshine and to drink at the Sandlot."

Kudos to Monfort for stepping up, being accountable and making the effort to reply to a paying customer.

So we know Rockies ownership hears your discontent.

If 30,000 spectators lift their voices at the ballpark to do something more meaningful than the wave, it could actually have an impact.

Who knows? It might even cause the Rockies to make a more meaningful change than reissuing a uniform to pitcher Jeff Francis.

Bad baseball

A look at the five worst Rockies teams at the all-star break — before this season's meltdown — and how those teams fared for the full season:

2005 Rockies

Record: 31-56. Final record: 67-95. Team ERA: 5.13.

Notable: Worst record in franchise history before the all-star break; had 10-game losing streak; won just 27 road games; only one player with 20 or more home runs; tied for most losses in the NL; 32 games below .500 was the season's low point.

1993 Rockies

Record: 33-54. Final record: 67-95. Team ERA: 5.41.

Notable: First season in franchise history; team never above .500; had 13-game losing streak; didn't record a shutout; won 28 road games; Andres Galarraga won the NL batting title; finished hot, going 17-9 in September.

2004 Rockies

Record: 36-51. Final record: 68-94. Team ERA: 5.54.

Notable: Had two eight-game losing streaks; outfielder Matt Holliday made his debut (April 16), as did pitcher Jeff Francis (Aug. 25); traded former league MVP Larry Walker to the Cardinals; July was best month (18-10); Jeromy Burnitz had career season (37 homers, 110 RBIs); Vinny Castilla won RBI title (131).

1998 Rockies

Record: 37-52. Final record: 77-85. Team ERA: 4.99.

Notable: Vinny Castilla (46 homers, 144 RBIs) an all-star and won Silver Slugger award; manager Don Baylor fired after season; six days in first place early in season; Ellis Burks traded.

2008 Rockies

Record: 39-57. Final record: 74-88. Team ERA: 4.77.

Notable: First season after franchise's only World Series appearance; had two eight-game losing streaks; won 31 road games; allowed 20 runs in one game; led the league in stolen bases; pitcher Aaron Cook won 16 games.

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